James Lesh provided historical advice to the City of Moreland to assist with its re-naming to the City of Merri-Bek. The council sought rigorous historical knowledge to underpin its re-naming. James’ historical report linked three British Caribbean slave plantations to the Moreland name. He also contributed to reconciliation and truth-telling with the council, residents and First Peoples.
Key Outputs:
- Historical Advice to the City of Moreland/Merri-Bek
- Community workshop with local residents
- Public lecture on project findings
- Research Report
Commendations and Awards:
- Victorian Community History Award
This six-week project is an exemplary response to an unusual local government brief. By attending explicitly to the evidence, both local and international, and by clearly addressing the requirements of the brief, James Lesh retrieves forgotten pasts and overlooked conceptions underpinning claims about ‘heritage’. This report is a model of ‘applied history’. Lesh reveals heritage in all its complexity. By recovering, without condescension, forgotten contexts for a past naming decision, Lesh has re-enabled a community to make its own decision.
Citation for the Victorian Community History Award.
Links:
- Review the research report
- Learn why slave names have no place in Modern Melbourne (The Age)
- Renaming Moreland homepage